Driving mechanism for washing-machines



J. P. DORAU. DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES- APPLICATION FILED JAN-20, I919.

Patented Mar. 16, 1920.

JOHN P. DORAU, OF NORTH FUND DU LAC, WISCONSIN.

'DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented B131. 16, 1920,

Application filed Zianuary. 20, 1919. Serial No. 272,101.

the following is a. description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in washing machines and refers more particularly to the driving mecl anism therefor.

In washing machines of the oscillating reciprocating pounder or dolly type the clothes become knotted as during each entire vertical movement the pounder is oscillated in but one direction. My invention has for one of its'objects to relieve this objection and provide a driving mechanism whereby the direction of oscillation of the pounder will be reversed substantially mid-way of each limit of movement thereof.

A. further object of this invention is to provide a driving mechanism for washing machines including a drive shaft so arranged with respect to the pounder shaft and so connected thereto as to impart a rubbing action on the clothes by the pounder.

\Vith the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the ap-. pended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come Within the scope ofthe claims.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated several complete examples of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to thebest mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a washing machine equipped with driving mechanism embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isa modified form of the invention;

Fig. 4 is another modified form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing a difl'erent means for moving the horizontal shaft shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig.6 is a detail view of another means for moving the horizontal shaft shown in Fig. 1.

In the drawings the numeral 7 designates the tub of the washing machine, 8 the cover, 9 the pounder, 10 the. pounder shaft vertically slidably mounted in the bracket 11. In thepresent instance I have shown the pounder 9 as made up of two members 12 and 13, the member 13 having a limited sliding movement Within the member 12 so as to remain in contact with the clothes during partof the time the pounder shaft is being raised. 1

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawing, the numeral 14: designates a horizontally disposed drive shaft mounted in a bracket 15 secured on the cover 8 and carrying a crank 16 provided with a bore 17 in Which a pin 18 is pivotally mounted, said pin having a forked end 19.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the pin 18 is operatively connected to the pounder shaft 10 by means of a crank 20 fixed on said shaft, and a link I 21 pivotally connected at one end to the crank 20 by a pm 22 and pivotally connected at its other end to the forked end 19 of the pin by a pin 23.

' In Fig. 3 the pounder shaft 10 has a gear 2i secured. thereto which meshes with a rack 25 slidably mounted in a housing 26,.loosely mounted on the shaft 10, and pivotally connected to the forked end'19. of the pin 8 by means of a pin 27.

In both of the constructions above described the shaft lat is out of line in a vertical plane with the shaft 10.

The shaft 1% maybe continuously rotated by hand by a crank disk 28 and handle 29 or it may be driven by power as shown in Fig. 5 by a motor 30'having a worm 31 on the motor shaft 32 meshing with a Worm wheel 33 on the shaft 14.

The shaft 14: may also be oscillated either by hand or by power and in Fig. 6 I show a. motor 3% drivingly connected to a shaft 35 by a belt 36 connecting a pulley 37 on the motor shaft 38 with a pulley 39 on the shaft 35 which shaft is connected to the shaft 14:

by a gear 40 meshing with a gear 41 on a shaft 42, said gear pivotally carrying a connecting rod 43 slidably mounted at its other end in a housing 44: and provided with a rack 45 meshing with a gear. 46 on the shaft set crank connection will cause the rack 25 to oscillate the gear 2% and thus reciprocate the shaft 10 to produce a similar action to that described in connection with Fig. 1 and said pounder shaft will. also be vertically reciprocated. I

Inthe construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive where the shaft 1a is oscillated the shaft 10 will also be oscillated in its lower position and be vertically reciprocated.

In the construction shown in Fig. at in stead of using the shaft let, the pin 18 is mounted in a bore 47 in a member 48 pivotally connected to a lever 1-9. The lever l9 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon an upright pin 50' journaled in a bore 51 in a bracket 52 and secured therein in any suitable manner as by a set screw 53 loosely engaging in an annular groove 5% in the pin. The outer end 55 of the lever 4.9 is ballshaped and is mounted in a socket 56in a lever 57 pivotally mounted at its lower end upona projection 58 on the bracket 52 and provided with a handle portion 59. With this construction the oscillation of the lever 57 will move the lever e9 back and forth and up and down and these 'FDOVGHIQIES will be transmitted to the member 18 which will cause the pin 18 and link 21 to oscillate said pounder shaft 10 in a horizontal plane and also vertically reciprocate said shaft.

lVhat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a driving mechanism for washing machines, the combination, with a pounder shaft, of a driving member, a driving connection between said member and said shaft comprising an element having an offset universal joint connection with said member and an offset connection. with said shaft.

2. In a driving mechanism for washing machines, the combination, with a pounder shaft, of a driving member, a driving connection between said member and said shaft comprising a link having an offset universal joint connection with said member, and a crank connecting said link with said pounder shaft. q

8. In a driving mechanism for washing machines the co'ibination, with a pounder shaft, of a drive shaft disposed at an angle thereto and out of line with said pounder shaft, a driving connection between said shafts comprising an element having an olfset universal joint connection with said drive shaft and an offset connection with said pounder shaft. 7

1. In a driving mechanism for washing machines, the combination with a pounder shaft, of a drive shaft, a crank on said drive shaft, a pin journaled in said crank, and a member pivotally connected at one end to said pin and operatively connected at its other end to said pounder shaft whereby said pounder shaft will be simultaneously reciprocated and oscillated upon movement of said drive shaft, said drive shaft and pounder shaft being out of line with respect to each other whereby the direction of oscillation of the pounder shaft will be reversed mid-way of its upper and lower limits of movement. 7

5. In a driving mechanism for washing machines, the combination with a vertically reciprocatingly mounted shaft, ofa horizontal shaft exposed at an angle thereto and out of line with respect thereto, and a drive connection between said shafts for imparting an oscillating and reciprocating movement to the vertical shaft and including a crank and a universal joint, the direction of oscillation of said vertical shaft being changed at its limits of movement and at a point intermediate its limits of movement by reason of said shafts being out of line with respect to each other.

In testimonywhereof I afiix my signature.

' JOHN P. DORAU. 

